Views of the Capital As Panama's Economy Averages 9 Percent Growth

Views of the Capital As Panama's Economy Averages 9 Percent Growth

Fishing boats are anchored near the fish market as building

Bloomberg

Fishing boats are anchored near the fish market as buildings stand in the skyline in the background in Panama City, Panama, on Wednesday, April 23, 2014. Panama has averaged about 9 percent economic growth annually since 2008 and unemployment levels hover near a record low of 4.1 percent. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Fishing boats are anchored near the fish market as buildings stand in the skyline in the background in Panama City, Panama, on Wednesday, April 23, 2014. Panama has averaged about 9 percent economic growth annually since 2008 and unemployment levels hover near a record low of 4.1 percent. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Scaffolding stands on a concrete wall at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Scaffolding stands on a concrete wall at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Striking workers sit inside a tent at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Striking workers sit inside a tent at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Cranes and heavy equipment sit at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Cranes and heavy equipment sit at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A worker climbs the scaffold stairs between concrete walls at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A worker climbs the scaffold stairs between concrete walls at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Striking workers play dominoes in a tent at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Striking workers play dominoes in a tent at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Scaffolding stands on a concrete wall at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Scaffolding stands on a concrete wall at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Cranes stand at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Cranes stand at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A worker walks near a concrete wall at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A worker walks near a concrete wall at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Cranes stand at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Cranes stand at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Two workers talk at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Two workers talk at the construction site for the third sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Panama's presidential contenders are winding down their campaigns ahead of the May 4 election as a strike by construction workers paralyzes the expansion of the country's signature waterway, its biggest economic resource. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The dry bulk carrier Wuhu, right, is guided through the Miraflores Locks by an electronic locomotive known as a mule, left, at the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Wednesday, April, 23, 2014. Construction projects throughout Panama have remained idle since April 23, when workers walked off the job in an effort to win a 35 percent salary increase. The strike threatens to further delay the canals expansion, designed to accommodate larger ships and help reduce transport costs for commodities such as liquefied natural gas. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The dry bulk carrier Wuhu, right, is guided through the Miraflores Locks by an electronic locomotive known as a mule, left, at the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Wednesday, April, 23, 2014. Construction projects throughout Panama have remained idle since April 23, when workers walked off the job in an effort to win a 35 percent salary increase. The strike threatens to further delay the canals expansion, designed to accommodate larger ships and help reduce transport costs for commodities such as liquefied natural gas. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A worker watches over an electronic locomotive, known as a mule, as it guides a vessel through the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Wednesday, April, 23, 2014. Construction projects throughout Panama have remained idle since April 23, when workers walked off the job in an effort to win a 35 percent salary increase. The strike threatens to further delay the canals expansion, designed to accommodate larger ships and help reduce transport costs for commodities such as liquefied natural gas. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A worker watches over an electronic locomotive, known as a mule, as it guides a vessel through the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Wednesday, April, 23, 2014. Construction projects throughout Panama have remained idle since April 23, when workers walked off the job in an effort to win a 35 percent salary increase. The strike threatens to further delay the canals expansion, designed to accommodate larger ships and help reduce transport costs for commodities such as liquefied natural gas. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A worker walks past the Margrit Rickmers container ship as it passes through the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Wednesday, April, 23, 2014. Construction projects throughout Panama have remained idle since April 23, when workers walked off the job in an effort to win a 35 percent salary increase. The strike threatens to further delay the canals expansion, designed to accommodate larger ships and help reduce transport costs for commodities such as liquefied natural gas. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A worker walks past the Margrit Rickmers container ship as it passes through the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Wednesday, April, 23, 2014. Construction projects throughout Panama have remained idle since April 23, when workers walked off the job in an effort to win a 35 percent salary increase. The strike threatens to further delay the canals expansion, designed to accommodate larger ships and help reduce transport costs for commodities such as liquefied natural gas. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Margrit Rickmers container ship, right, Maersk container ship Bali, top right, and Wuhu dry bulk carrier, top left, pass through the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Wednesday, April, 23, 2014. Construction projects throughout Panama have remained idle since April 23, when workers walked off the job in an effort to win a 35 percent salary increase. The strike threatens to further delay the canals expansion, designed to accommodate larger ships and help reduce transport costs for commodities such as liquefied natural gas. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Margrit Rickmers container ship, right, Maersk container ship Bali, top right, and Wuhu dry bulk carrier, top left, pass through the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama, on Wednesday, April, 23, 2014. Construction projects throughout Panama have remained idle since April 23, when workers walked off the job in an effort to win a 35 percent salary increase. The strike threatens to further delay the canals expansion, designed to accommodate larger ships and help reduce transport costs for commodities such as liquefied natural gas. Photographer: Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images